WUIS-WIPA changing weeknight line-up in January

December 20, 2005

SPRINGFIELD – Public Radio station WUIS 91.9-WIPA 89.3 will change its
weeknight program line-up starting January 2. Jazz programming will move
back to later hours and Jazz with Bob Parlocha, aired from 10 p.m. to
1 a.m., will be followed by news overnight from the BBC from 1 to 4 a.m.

Arts-and-entertainment program Fresh Air with Terry Gross, airing
daily at 3 p.m., will be re-broadcast at 7 p.m. and NPR classical music
program Performance Today will follow from 8 to 10 p.m.

WUIS Program Director Sinta Lane noted, “Public radio is well-known for
the depth and breadth of its news coverage, and adding the BBC gives us
another, more global, perspective, which is something our listeners wanted.”

WUIS General Manager Bill Wheelhouse assures listeners however that the
station has not lessened its commitment to classical music. “We’re committed
to being the source of classical music and quality news programming in this
region,” he said.

“These changes were precipitated by looking at our current budget and
eyeing the future of the station,” he continued. “The classical music
service that we have been airing overnight is twice as expensive as the
BBC. On the other hand, we are putting classical music, in the form of an
outstanding program, back into the early evenings. These changes provide
excellent listening for our nighttime audience, while setting the stage for
growth in the next five years.”

Wheelhouse also noted that WUIS is converting to a digital signal,
something that stations were advised to do several years ago. Within the
next five years, the station expects to offer at least two channels
digitally, coinciding with the growing popularity of digital receivers and
providing clearer sound for listeners. The conversion is partially funded by
a grant from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

WUIS-WIPA is listener-supported public radio broadcast from the campus of
the University of Illinois at Springfield. WUIS’ mission is to satisfy a
curious, societally engaged audience through programming and community
outreach. WUIS’ complete program schedule and other information is available
at www.wuis.org.

The University of Illinois at Springfield,
one of three U of I campuses, is a small, public liberal arts university
that
offers
42 degree programs – 21
bachelor’s, 20 master’s, and the Doctorate of Public Administration.
UIS has a special mission in public affairs and service and is known for
extraordinary internships, a wireless campus, extensive online offerings,
and a commitment to teaching.